• 01
  • November
    2010

From DUI first offenses to felony DUIs, drunk driving is one topic that frequently generates significant discussion in both legal and non-legal circles. In fact, one story in particular grabbed Colorado headlines this past spring: the State Trooper arrested for DUI while on duty.

On March 22, at roughly 7 am, 911 dispatchers in Colorado Springs received several reports of a state trooper's cruiser veering between lanes on the interstate. Responding units from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office pulled the cruiser over to check on the status of the officer only to discover the odor of alcohol coming from Trooper David Dolan.

Dolan, 49, was unable to maintain his balance during subsequent field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer test later revealed that his blood alcohol content (BAC) was .194, more than double Colorado's legal limit of .08.

Dolan eventually pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, serving 10 days in jail and ultimately losing his job with the Colorado State Patrol.

In addition to these consequences, Dolan also completed treatment for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Interestingly, Dolan recently told a Denver news station that his six years spent on the State Patrol's accident reconstruction team (200-2006) - a position that requires in-depth investigation of traumatic and deadly motor vehicle accidents - caused him to suffer PTSD.

After a transfer to the unit in charge of recruiting/background checks, and receiving counseling from a psychologist along with medication to minimize flashbacks, Dolan's PTSD began to improve.

Unfortunately, when he witnessed the death of a man at a local job fair, he began to suffer from increased flashbacks and started drinking to cope with the trauma.

"I stopped sleeping again," said Dolan. "I started to self medicate. I started to drink and it didn't do any good."

This pattern ultimately led to increased substance abuse and culminated in the March incident.

Fortunately, Dolan's condition has improved considerably and he now expresses hope that his experiences will encourage those with similar PTSD problems to seek help.

"It's a disorder that anyone can be affected by," said Dolan. "You don't have to be in law enforcement. It's one of those disorders that can sneak up on anybody."

Whether you have been arrested and charged with a DUI first offense or felony DUI, it is imperative to consider speaking with an experienced Colorado attorney. Your rights and your future may be at stake.

This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Stay tuned for more information in the next post from our Denver DUI/DWAI blog ...

Related Resources:

Trooper arrested for DUI while on the job speaks out (9News.com-Colorado)